Thursday, November 15, 2007

I'm interested in how you guys handle the beginning of chilly season. I'm not talking 20-below-zero. When it's just a little too cold for your usual early-fall apparel, what's the first thing (or things) you add to fight the chill? Take the poll to the right.

And yes, I realize I forgot to add full-finger gloves to the list, AFTER I had published the poll. I'd have to start over again and get rid of the existing votes if I wanted to change anything. :(

If you're getting this via an RSS reader, then Click here to see the poll.

You would never know that I came from the frozen tundra...but anything below 70 degrees and I break out the tights and lightweight wool long sleeve jersey. Cold weather riding is only something I endure...

Haha Badger, I think the last 'dude night ride I went on, you were sportin' the long jersey in the lower 60's. Of course, I hadn't quite acclimated either. I was feeling kinda chilly with just a wicking t-shirt up top.

Above 45'F I usually will wear my regular gear if in the woods. On the road will depend on wind and sun conditions.

Below 45"F - I start with a long sleeve jersey with a windshell stuffed in the pocket. Maybe tights - again, on road v off road dictate two different approaches.

When it finally gets cold - around 25"F and lower, that's when I get serious. Winter tights, winter riding boots, poly wicking long john top with generous amounts of polar fleeece topped off with something water and rain resistant. Hands - Wells Lamont insulated lwather work gloves. Work great down to 15'F or so.

I have a balacava I wear under the helmet for my ears.

Basically if I can keep my feet, ears and hands warm, it almost doesn't matter what else I wear. Not really, but if one or more of them is cold, I am cold.

My rule-of-thumb is to add a layer for every 10 degree drop in temperature, or if I'll be riding in the rain or into a strong headwind. And I always have a pair of arm warmers, a long sleeved synthetic undershirt, and spare socks in my toolbox at work. If the weather changes unexpectedly (a not uncommon occurrence in Oklahoma) I'll be a little more comfortable on the ride home.

Privacy Policy

This site is driven by software that uses third-party cookies from Google (Blogger, AdSense, Feedburner and their associates.) Cookies are small pieces of non-executable data stored by your web browser, often for the purpose of storing preferences or data from previous visits to a site. No individual user is directly tracked by this or any other means, but I do use the aggregate data for statistics purposes.

By leaving a link or e-mail address in my comments (including your blogger profile or website URL), you acknowledge that the published comment and associated links will be available to the public and that they will likely be clicked on.

Sponsors

RSS Feed

Contact me!

If you'd like to contact me outside the comments, leave a message and I'll respond. Oh yeah, if you're going to send me a URL, ask me if you can send me one first, then send it when I reply. If not, my spam troll will eat your fingers for breakfast.